Tag: equipment

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What are Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (CFBs)?

Compact fluorescent lights are often the most convenient lamps to use in small gardens. Unlike fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs have ballasts built into the bulb assembly so they can screw into a standard incandescent socket.

The light emitted from a CFL lamp is indirect. Since any light that doesn’t reach the plants is wasted, use reflectors to get the lights to the garden. Use fixtures with bowl-like reflectors to send the light in the right direction.

To maintain a fast growing  garden, a minimum of 30 watts of fluorescent light per square foot is required during vegetative growth. More light,  40-60 watts per square foot will produce even higher quality growth. Compact fluorescent bulbs come in the following wattage – 13w, 26w, 55w, 125w, and 200w. The 125w and 200w bulbs require a mogul socket to screw into, but the 13w, 26w, and 55w bulbs all fit standard light sockets.

Compact fluorescent bulbs emit the most light when they are positioned with the base up. They emit less light when positioned base down and are least efficient when placed horizontally.

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What are Metal Halide Lamps (MH)?

Metal halide lamps are the type of lamps used to illuminate outdoor sports events because they emit a white light. Metal halide bulbs come in different spectrums – 2,100K, 3,200K, 6,400K, 7,200K, and 10,000K.

A metal halide bulb with a 6,400K, 7,200K or 10,000K rating is ideal for vegetative growth (18 hrs.) and for the first 2 weeks of flowering  (12 hrs.). Using this bulb in early flowering will decrease stretching of the plant during the transition period from veg to bloom.

Using a 6400K, 7200K, or 10,000K bulb in the last 2 weeks of flowering will supply critical “UVB” light to the garden. Even plants grown under High Pressure Sodium lamps will have increased potency if the lamps are replaced with metal halide bulbs in the last 2 weeks of flowering.

Metal halide bulbs that are 2,100K and 3,200K are often the only bulb used during the whole life of the plant- vegetative and flowering stages. These bulbs have a mixture of blue, green, yellow, red, and orange spectrums which are sufficient for all phases of growth.

Metal halide bulbs come in 250w, 400w and 1000w sizes. These bulbs require a ballast to ignite them.

NOTE – It is unsafe to use a metal halide with a broken outer bulb. Not only does it emit large amounts of harmful UVB rays, it also releases UVC light, which is deadly to most life forms. DO NOT use a broken metal halide lamp.

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What are High Pressure Sodium Lamps (HPS)?

High pressure sodium lamps emit an orange or amber looking light. Their spectrum is heavily concentrated in the yellow, orange, and red spectrums with only minimal amounts of blue spectrum. These type of lamps are commonly used in street lights.

High pressure sodium lamps are usually used for flowering because they supply more orange and red light than metal halide lamps. Using lamps with increased orange and red spectrum seems to promote more flower production. Some newer HPS lamps emit enhanced levels of blue light, which encourages stout short stems and branches. Manufacturers of these lamps claim that the  bulb can be used in both the vegetative and flowering stages.

High pressure sodium bulbs are available in – 150w, 250w, 400w, 430w, 600w, 750w, and 1000w sizes. The bulb wattage must match the ballast wattage.

“DON’T” use a smaller wattage bulb in a larger wattage ballast, unless the ballast has adjustable wattages, and you adjust the ballast to the bulb wattage.

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What are LED lights?

The latest addition to indoor lighting options is lamps made from Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). LEDs create little heat and are only about 3″-4″ deep, so they work well in closets, or spaces where height is an issue. LEDs are also very efficient, using less hydro than Metal Halide, High Pressure Sodium and even Fluorescents.

In an LED lighting system each diode emits light in a narrow spectrum. The spectrum is determined by the minerals used to make them. This allows LED’s to be designed to provide the plants with exactly the spectrum that they need for maximum growth. By tailoring the diode spectrums to the plants requirement, LED’s  produce more PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation)  than HID lamps.

PAR – The light that plants use is known as Photosynthetically Active Radiation. Humans see light best in the yellow-green wavelengths around 550 nm. Plants make most use of light in the red and blue spectrums in the range of 400-700 nm.

HPS lamps deliver more total light per watt of  input, but LEDs are twice as efficient in PAR light per watt. LED fixtures are more expensive than HID lights, but they will save money in the long run.

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What are LEC Lights

LEC stands for Light Emitting Ceramic, a huge leap forward in Metal Halide technology. The most important change is the ceramic tube which allows the bulb to burn at a higher temperature, creating light that is much closer to natural sunlight. Growers around the world are stunned at the effectiveness of these new features.

Sun System LEC 315 utilizes cutting edge Light Emitting Ceramic technology, delivering an amazing spectrum unmatched by other types of H.I.D. lighting. A highly efficient agriculturally engineered Phillips CDM-T Elite 315/U/O Agro Lamp comes with the unit. Greatly improved full colour light spectrum out of next generation ceramic lamps.

Built into the fixture is a high-quality Phillips brand 50/60 Hz low frequency, square wave, highly efficient electronic ballast rated for 50,000 hour life! The LEC 315 driver incorporates built in thermal protection. Very reliable and durable fixture made with the finest quality materials and components available.

  • LESS HEAT– LEC bulbs have a lower radiant heat factor which makes them perfect for smaller applications by making it easier to control temperature spikes.
  • YIELD PER WATT– low heat means closer to plants, light quality means better plant growth. Bottom line this technology will pay for itself by giving your plants more of what they need.
  • SQUARE WAVE BALLAST– Running on a Phillips square wave ballast this technology ensures a more stable beam of light hitting the plants as the square waves mean the energy getting to the bulb never fluctuates.
  • SPECTRAL OPTIONS– There is a full spectrum 3100K bulb that comes standard and the opportunity to replace it with a 4200K for dedicated vegetative growth.

1- State-of-the-art Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) delivers an amazing, full spectrum unmatched by other types of H.I.D. lighting.
2- Highly efficient agriculturally engineered Philips CDM-T Elite 315 Watt Agro Lamp (included)
3- Higher amounts of beneficial UV and far red spectrums increase the lamps growth to plants.
4- Very high 1.95 PPF per second light source.
5- High-quality Philips brand 50/60 Hz low frequency, square wave, highly efficient electronic ballast built into the fixture.
6- Excellent 90% lumen maintenance at 8,000 hours. (bulb should be replaced after 2 years for maximum growth potential).
7- Compact lighting solution for small growing areas or to supplement high pressure sodium (HPS) lighting.
8- Very reliable and durable fixture made with the finest quality materials and components.
9- Reflective is made with 98% reflective German aluminium and 95% reflective textured corner inserts.

Buy an LEC Light HERE!